Sprinkler system for automatic fire-extinguishers.



Patented Nov. 4, I902.

No. 7I2,682.

E. D. JEFFERSON. SPRINKLER SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHERS.

(Application filed Jan. 13, 1902.)

(No Model.)

III

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THE umams PETERS co.. PuoToumQ, WASHINGTON. 0 cv A llNtrn STATES EUGENED. JEFFERSON, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS.

SPRINKLER SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC FIRE-EXTINGUISHERS.

SPEGIFICATIGN forming part of Letters Patent I\To.712,682, datedNovember 4, 1902. Application filed January 13. 1902. Serial No. 89,552.No model-l To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, EUGENE D. JEFFERSON, acitizen of the United States,residing at Lowell, in the county of Middlesex and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSprinkler Systems for Automatic Fire-Extinguishers; and

I do hereby declare the following to be a full,

clear, andexact description of theinvention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present inven tion relates to a sprinkler system for automaticfire-extinguishers, and more particularly to what is known .as thedry-pipe system, in which the distribution and sprinkler pipes arenormally free from water.

The object of the present invention is to provide a sprinkler system ofthe above class with a valve normally closing the main water-supplywhich shall be quick and certain in action to permit the water in themain supply-pipe'to enter the distribution and sprinkler pipes upon thepresence of an abnormally high temperature at any point covered by thesystem.

To the above end the present invention consists, broadly, in thecombination, with a water-supply pipe, a distribution-pipe, and avalvelocated between and connecting said pipes, of a mechanical devicefor opening the valve, a detent for holding the mechanical device fromoperation, and means for tripping the detent;

My invention also consists in certain other devices and combinations ofdevices hereinafter described and claimed.-

While my invention is not limited to a sprinkler system embodying anyparticular form of valve for closing the main Water-supply pipe, Ipreter to employ in this connection a valve of the type shown in theaccompanying drawings, which is located between the supply anddistribution pipes, as will be now more fully described. 7

1 represents the Water-supmy pipe, and 2 the distribution-pipe, to whichare connected the various sprinkler-pipes leading to thesprinkler-heads. Located between the supply-pipe and the distribution-pipe is the valve, which is normally held closed, but

which is arranged to be opened by means ofa heavy spring, as willhereinafter be described.

3 represents the valve-chamber, within which the carrier 4: is arrangedto be moved. Mounted within the carrier are the valveactuating members5, to which are connected by a pin-and-groove connection the valves 6.

7 is the valve-spindle, to the lower end of which is secured thewedge-block S. This block is provided with grooves which engagecorrespondingly-shaped projections on the members 5, the arrangementbeing such that when the spindle, with its block 8, is raised or loweredthe members 5 and their valves 6 will be moved toward or from each otherto be unsealed or seated upon their valve-seats 9. A spring 10, engagingat one end the collar 11, secured to the valve-spindle,and at the' otherthe top of the carrier 4, prevents the carrier from rising during thefirst portion of the upward movement of the spindle 7, thus insuring thewithdrawal of the valves from their seats before they are raised withthe carrier in the valve-chamber This spring also prevents the valvesfrom being moved outward until the bottom of the carrier ongages thestop or abutment 12 at the bottom of the valve-chamber when the spindleis depressed.

Although in the illustrated embodiment of my invention I have shown acoiled spring .for actuating the valve, I do not limit myself thereto,as any other suitable equivalent mechanical device may be employed. Inthe construction shown in the drawings the valvespindle is raised toopen the valve in the following manner: Upon the left-hand screwthreadedupper portion of the Valve-spindle is mounted the internally-threadedsleeve 13, which is arranged to be rotated and moved longitudinally in abearing 14 in the upper end of the frame 15. This sleeve is providedwith a groove or slot 16 and is preferably counterbored, as shown, toreceive one end of a heavy coiled spring 17, the other end engaging afixed abutment. A hand-Wheel 18 is secured upon the squared end of thesleeve by means of a nut 19. Adetent 20, mounted to slide in bearings inthe frame 15,.is normally pressed inward by the spring 21 andengages thegroove 16 in the sleeve 13 to hold the valve closed. When the detent iswithdrawn, the sleeve 13 will be forced upward in its bearing 14 by thespring 17, carrying with it the spindle 7 and opening the valve.

Myinvention also contemplates the employment, in conjunction with themechanical devices for actuating the valve, of a hydraulic device actingas a dash-pot for checking the opening movement of the valve when themechanical device acts to open the valve and by means of which hydraulicdevice the water-pressure in the supply-pipe maybe availed of to actuatethe valve in case the mechanical actuating device fails to work, as willbe hereinafter described.

\rVhile my invention contemplates the use of any automaticmechanism forwithdrawing the detent to open the valve, I prefer to employ in thisconnection mechanism controlled by the air-pressure in the distributionand sprinkler pipes and actuated by the waterpressure in thewater-supply pipe. Such means in the illustrated embodiment of myinvention consist of a cylinder 22, within which is mounted the piston23 and pistonrod 24, operatively connected with alever 25, pivoted tothe frame 15 at 26 and connected to the detent by a pin-and-slotconnection 27, said lever being actuated by the end of the piston-rod 24to withdraw the detent to open the valve. The piston 23 is actuated bythe water-pressure in the supply-pipe 1 through a connection 28. Locatedbetween the cylinder 22 and connection 28 is the valve 29, which isnormally held in contact with its seat 30 to close the connection 28.Mounted upon the upper end of the valve-spindle 31 and between the metalwasher 32 and securing-nuts 33 is the flexible piston ordiaphragm 34.This diaphragm engages near its edge the flange 35 on the wall of theair-chamber 36. The area of the diaphragm is so proportioned withrespect to the area of the Valve 29 that the total downward pressureexerted by the air on the diaphragm shall exceed the total upwardpressure of the water on the valve 29, so that the valve will norm allybe held closed. In the drawings the area of the diaphragm is somewhatmore than four times the area of the valve 29, as the water-pressure issupposed to be eighty pounds per square inch and the air pressure twentypounds per square inch. The valve is guided in its vertical movement bymeans of the cylindrical guide 37 and bearing 38. An aperture 39 isformed in the wall of the air-chamber 36 to carry 0% any water which mayleak between the guide 37 and bearing 38 when the valve is opened, as itis desirable that the piston or diaphragm 34 be kept dry. An automaticdrip-cock 40 is provided, which is normally open to drain off the waterfrom the cylinder 22 and valve-chamber 41, but which closes under thefull water-pressure when the valve is open. The air-chamber 36 isconnected with the distribution-pipe 2 by the connection 42, anair-chamber 43 being provided, which will prevent water from beingcarried into the air-chamber 36 when the distribution-pipe is filledwith water under the full pressure.

The auxiliary device to insure the opening of the valve if the spring 17should fail to act for any reason consists of a cylinder 44, throughwhich the spindle 7 of the valve passes. Secured upon the spindle is thepiston 45, to the under side of which the water from the supply-pipe isapplied through a port 46 and connection 47 with the cylinder 22. Asshown in the drawings, this connection enters the cylinder through aport located at such a point that the water can enter this connectiononly after the piston 23 has been moved to the left far enough toactuate the lever 25 and withdraw the detent 20 from the groove 16 inthe sleeve 13. Thus the auxiliary valve-actuatoris never renderedoperative until the valve is free to be raised. An aperture 48 in thelower wall of the cylinder 22 is provided, through which the water mayflow out of the cylinder 22, connection 47, and cylinder 44. Thisaperture also permits air to be drawn through cylinders 22 andconnection 47 into cylinder 44 when the piston is forced upward byspring 17.

The air-pressure in the distribution and sprinkler pipes is maintainedat the desired amount in any suitable manner, preferably by an automaticpump such as is commonly used with devices of the class to which thepresent invention relates.

The operation of the illustrated embodiment of my improved sprinklersystem is as follows: Assuming the parts to be in the position shown inthe drawings, with an air-pressure of twenty pounds per square inch inthe distribution and sprinkler pipes and a waterpressure of eightypounds per square inch in the water-supply pipe, the valve will be heldclosed as long as air-pressure is maintained. When, however, one of thesprinkler-heads is opened by the abnormal heat, due to the presence of afire, the air-pressure in the sprinkler and distribution pipes, as wellas in the airchamber 36, at once drops. The upward pressure upon thevalve 29 now exceeds the downward pressure upon the flexible piston ordiaphragm 34 and the valve is opened and the water from the water-s11pply pipe enters the valve-chamber 41 and. cylinder 22 and forces thepiston 23 and piston-rod 24 to the left to actuate the lever 25 towithdraw the detent 20 from the groove in the sleeve 13. The spring 17at once carries the sleeve 13 and spindle 7 upward, withdrawing thevalves 6 from their seats and then raising the carrier and valves frombetween the supply and dis tribution pipes. As the spindle 7 rises thepiston 45 is carried upwardly in cylinder 44, free communication betweenthe bottom of the cylinder and the open air being maintained through theport 46, connection 47, cylinder 22, and aperture 48. When the valve israised, the water at once fills the distribution and sprinkler pipes andescapes through whatever sprinkler-heads may have been opened by theheat from the fire. The water in the distribution-pipe rises in thechamber 43, compressing the air in the chamber, connection 42, and theair-chamber 36 until the air-pressu re equals the water-pressure, whenthe Etll-Cll(ti11bBI 43 shall be about two-thirds filled with water. Assoon as the pressure in the air chamber 36 reaches twenty pounds thespindle 31 will be forced downward and the valve 29 closed. The pressurein the valve-chamber 41 and cylinder 22 will fall owing to leakage-untilthe automatic d ripcock 40 is opened. When it is desired to close thevalve between the supply and distribution pipes-that is, after the tirehas been ext inguishedthe main or hydrant valve (not shown) in thesupply-pipe 1 is closed, the wateris drained oil": from the distributionand sprinkler pipes, and the normal air-pressure is reestablished. Thepistonrod 24 and piston 23 are then pushed back manually until theyoccupy the position shown in the drawings, the lower end of the lever 25being still retained in its left-hand position as the detent 20 engagesthe sleeve 13 at some point below the groove 16. The hand-wheel is thenrotated to the left, screwin; the sleeve 13 down upon the threadedspindle 7 as the latter is held from upward movement by the collar 11,which engages the top of the valvechamber 3. As soon as the groove 16comes opposite the detent 20 the latter will be moved into the groove bythe spring 21, at the same time swinging the lever 25 until its lowerend is in engagement with the piston-rod 24. By rotating the sleeve 13in the opposite directiouthat is, to the right--the spindle 7 will beforced downward as the sleeve is held from upward movement by means ofthe detent 20. The continued downward movement of the spindle 7 afterthe carrier strikes the abutment 12 will force the valves outwardly intoengagement with their respective valve-seats.

The downward movement of the spindle, and

with it the piston 45, forces out from the cylinder 44 through the port46 and connection 47 any water which may have entered the cylinder, andthis waterwill be drained off from cylinder 22 through the aperture 40.The main or hydrant valve (not shown) is then opened, and the apparatusis ready to operate again upon the breaking out of a fire. for anyreason the spring 17 failed to raise the spindle 7 after the detent 20has been withdrawn from the groove 16 in the sleeve 13, the auxiliaryactuating device is rendered operative, and the full water-pressure inthe supply-pipe 1 will be applied to the piston 45 in the cylinder 44 assoon as the piston 23 in the cylinder 22 has uncovered the port of theconnection 47, and the spindle 7 will be raised and the main valveopened with only a short delay.

So far as I am aware of the prior art I am the first to provide asprinkler system for antomatic fire-extinguishers with a gate-valvelocated between the supply and distribution pipes in which the valvesare first Withdrawn from their seats and are then raised bodily frombetween the valve-openings. By the use of such a valve I am'enabledabsolutely to prevent all leakage, providing a free and uninterruptedpassage of the water from the supply to the distribution pipes and atthe same time making the valve easy to actuate, as there are no slidingparts held in close contact by the pressure of the Water, thus insuringquickness and certainty in operation.

Although, as shown and described, the distribution and sprinkler pipesnormally contain air under pressure which controls the operation of thesprinkler system, nevertheless my invention is not limited to such aconstruction, as it maybe employed in other connections and withdifferent forms of sprinkler systems.

Although I have shown and described my invention as embodied in asprinkler system in which a positive air-pressu re is maintained in thepipes, it is not limited thereto, as it is within the scope ofmyinvention to maintain a negative pressurethatis,partial vacuumtherein,the necessary changes being'clearly within the skill of the averagemechanic skilled in this art.

\Vherever in the specification and claims I have used the termmechanical means or mechanical device as descriptive of the means foractuating the main valve I intend thereby to define such means asoperating mechanically, as under the influence of a spring or equivalentdevice, in coutradistinction to hydraulic devices.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States 1. A sprinkler system forautomatic fire-extinguishers, having, in combination, a watersupplypipe, a distribution-pipe, a valve located between and connecting saidpipes, a

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mechanical device for opening the valve, a

2. Asprinkler system for automatic fire-eX- tinguishers, having, incombination, a watersupply pipe, a distribution-pipe, a valve locatedbetween and connecting said pipes, a mechanical device for opening thevalve, a detent for holding the mechanical devicefrom operating, andmeans for tripping the detent actuated by the Water-pressure in thesupplypipe and controlled by the air-pressure in the distribution-pipe,substantially as described.

3. A sprinkler system for automatic fire-extinguishers, having, incombination, a watersupply pipe, a distribution-pipe, a valve locatedbetween and connecting said pipes, a mechanical device for openingthevalve, and an auxiliary hydraulic device for opening the valve actingas a dash-pot for checking the opening movement of the valve when themechanical device acts to open the valve, substantially as described.

4. A sprinkler system for automatic fire-extinguishers, having, incombination, a watersupply pipe, a distribution-pipe, a valve locatedbetween and connecting said pipes, a mechanical device for opening thevalve, a detent for holding the mechanical device from operating, meansfor tripping the detent, and means for applying, after the detent hasbeen tripped, the water-pressure in the water-supply pipe to assist inopening the valve, substantially as described.

5. Asprinkler system for automatic fire-extinguishers, having, incombination, a watersupply pipe, a distribution-pipe, a valve locatedbetween and connecting said pipes, said valve comprising a threadedvalve-spindle, an internally-threaded sleeve mounted thereon, a springengaging at one end the sleeve and at the other a fixed abutment, meansfor rotating the sleeve, a stop on the valve-spindle, adetent for thesleeve, and means for tripping the detent, substantially as described.

6. A sprinklersystem for automatic fire-extinguishers, having, incombination, a water supply pipe, a distribution-pipe, a valve locatedbetween and connecting said pipes, a

spring for opening the valve, a detent for holding the spring fromoperating,a hydraulic device for opening the valve, and a device fortripping the detent and for actuating the hydraulic device,substantially as described.

7. Asprinkler system forautomatic fire-extinguishers, having, incombination, a watersupply pipe, a distribution-pipe, a valve locatedbetween and connecting said pipes, a mechanical device for opening thevalve, a detent for holding the mechanical device from operating,ahydranlic device for opening the valve, and means controlled by theair-pressure in the distribution-pipe for tripping the detent and foractuating the hydraulic device, substantially as described.

8. Asprinkler system for automatic fire-extinguishers, having, incombination, a watersupply pipe, a distribution-pipe, a valve locatedbetween and connecting said pipes, a mechanical device for opening thevalve, an auxiliary hydraulic device for opening the valve and a commonactuating means for said devices, substantially as described.

9. A sprinkler system forautomatic fire-extinguishers, having, incombination, a watersnpply pipe, a distribution-pipe, a valve locatedbetween and connecting said pipes, valve-actuating mechanism comprisinga cylinder and a valve-spindle provided with a piston in said cylinder,connections normally closed between the cylinder and the Watersupplypipe, a spring for opening the valve, a detent, and automatic mechanismfor actuating the detent and for opening the connection between thecylinder and the water-supply pipe, substantially as described.

10. Asprinklersystem for automatic fire-extinguishers, having, incombination, awater-.

supply pipe, a distribution-pipe, a gate-valve between said pipesprovided with valve-seats and retractable valve members, valve-openingmeans acting positively first to withdraw the valve members from theirseats and then to lift them from between the pipes, and devices actuatedby the water-pressure in the supply-pipe acting automatically to throwthe valve-opening means into operation, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EUGENE D. JEFFERSON.

Vitnesses:

FRED O. FISH, ALFRED H. HILDRETH.

